Scriptural Foundation:
John 15:9-18 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you.
This is what I command you: that you love one another.
If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you
Reflection:
This past year I hit a big mile marker in age. Not that I am usually age conscious at all (my husband is eight years older than me, so I always “think up” in age anyways), but when I transition into a new decade of life, I take a different kind of pause than my habitual monthly marathon partner accountability goal assessments. My life’s endeavor has always been to hear from my Heavenly Father – “well done My good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). To accomplish such a lofty goal, one must always have eternity in mind. It is at these “pinnacles” in life, I double, and triple check my “God positioning Spirit” (GPS).
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11
To stay on course, we as Believers must always be seeking the Lord for direction in this journey of life. In my personal experience and observations, this can only be accomplished through constant truthful and candid discussions with the Holy Spirit.
And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. – Matthew 6:7-8
Beloved, remember your flesh will always tell you “yes” and although the Word does say His answers are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20) – it is only within His will. So, in His will, you may hear “no” or “not right now”, but it is ultimately for your own safety and good.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9
I am fully persuaded and confident that the Lord will never leave me nor forsaken me (Hebrews 13:5, AMPC). I have had many a dark day – week, even years…but His Word is written in my heart (2 Corinthians 3:3), so I am completely content with my life. Content is defined as a state of peaceful happiness. People that know me, know that my husband and I are passionate about striving after and keeping our peace in the Lord. Our peaceful witness acts like a light house in our “mission fields”. We live out and understand what Paul was saying in Philippians:
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13
Sadly, some Christians get to be content in their own lives and forget that there is still so much work to be done for the Kingdom. My lack of satisfaction is not one of ungratefulness, but one of great expectation in the One that created the universes. Satisfy is defined as completely fulfill/meet expectations, needs, or desires of (someone). As I look back at my last decade lived, my soul overflows with love and joy, however at the same time, it grieves/groans for Jesus to come.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. – Romans 8:20-23
Beloved, never be caught being content with life, always look up in the expectation of the Lord and never quit until you are fully satisfied (fully measure and complete and overflowing).
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- Mentally sort the people and/or situations in your life in three categories – positive, negative, and neutral.
- For the positive things – first give thanks to the Lord that they are where they are, then ask yourself if you are content or fully satisfied with how things are.
- For the negative things – seek the Lord and see if you have been holding something that had once been a blessing too long or holding on too tightly to something deep down your afraid to surrender to the Lord.
- For the neutral things – seek the Lord and see if you are luke warm in this area. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you either hot or cold to the person or situation so that growth in that area can start again.